30% of parents struggle to get their kids to brush their teeth

Do you find it hard to get your children to use one of these?

Published:12:00Saturday 20 August 2016

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Every parent knows that children aren’t always the most co-operative. And when it comes to getting them to do something new or that they don’t want to do they can be particularly resistant, whether it’s putting on shoes or getting them to take a bath.

In fact, new research conducted by Europe’s largest dental treatment provider mydentist has revealed that 30% of parents struggle with getting their children to brush their teeth, rating it more difficult than getting them to wash or dress themselves.

Steve Williams, Clinical Services Director at mydentist commented: “Parents should teach their kids about the importance of oral hygiene as early as possible; brushing baby teeth as soon as they start to appear and supervising children as they get older until they are at least eight years old.

“This will give them the best possible start and will get them used to the sensations. The trick is to make it a positive experience. If brushing your teeth becomes a regular and fun thing to do then children will be far more eager to take part. It’s essential that parents instil good brushing habits from an early age by highlighting the importance of making sure all areas are cleaned including between the teeth, and encouraging them to brush for two minutes, which can often seem like a long time.

“But it’s also important to remember that brushing isn’t enough - parents also need to think about what their children eat by limiting sugar and ensuring they have a healthy and balanced diet.”

If you’re a parent and scratching your head over how to get your child to brush their teeth, here are some top tips taken straight from parents who took to reddit to reveal how they fought the battle themselves!

Dentists will always advocate starting as early as possible when getting your kids accustomed to the process of brushing their teeth. Often it can be as simple as handing them a baby toothbrush for them to chew on - anything that gets them used to the feeling.

Jacques Noir said: “We started really early. Gave our daughter a baby toothbrush before she even had any teeth. Naturally it went straight in her mouth and she’d chew on it. It got her used to the feeling of having it in her mouth. Since then it’s never been a struggle at all; she actually enjoys brushing her teeth!”

“When they hit about one and a half to two, we’d have them play with the toothbrush to encourage them to put it in their mouth. Then we’d encourage them to brush their own teeth morning and night with us, mimicking our actions. After a month or two we’d introduce a mild toothpaste and start teaching them to brush their teeth in a pattern (front, side, top of the side, etc.). By about four they only really needed moderate supervision to make sure they take their time and don’t mess around. By about six they were brushing their teeth confidently with little supervision.”